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I've been paying child mainentance since my marriage broke up when she was very young. My daughter, who is now nearly 16, has for the last year been travelling to see me on the train. Her mother is now demanding that I pay for the train fare saying that this is not part of the Child Maintenance. Is this true?
If your income is £200 or more per week, then any expenses over £15 per week (the CSA expect you to pay this) involved in keeping in contact with your daughter (and I'd definitely say this is covered) can be deducted from your takehome pay to give a new figure that the CSA calculation is done on. For instance, if you take home £300 per week, then the maintenance would be 15%, ie £45 per week. If you are paying £25 per week for your daughter to travel then this is £10 per week in excess of the £15 allowance, so take the £10 off your takehome pay, giving £290, and then you pay 15 % of this. The saving is minimal, but it's better than nothing.
Is your daughter staying with you overnight? If she stays more than 52 nights per year, then the maintenance would be reduced by 1/7th for each multiple of 52 days she stays with you.
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